Essential oils are a great way to promote health and wellness. However, some fake oil brands are taking advantage of this by selling diluted oils or containing cheap fragrance oils instead of real ones.
If you want to buy essential oils, you want to find a company that will offer the best balance of quality and pricing while also offering transparency, ethical practices, and consumer education.
- Look for a label
The label is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying essential oils. It contains important information that can help you avoid the fakes and choose high-quality products.
The most important thing to look for on a bottle’s label is the Latin name of the plant used to distill the oil. If the oil doesn’t list the Latin name, it may not be pure. It could also be a fragrance oil, which is a mixture of different essential oils or other chemicals that give the oil scent.
Essential oils are basically extracts of various parts of plants, such as flowers, bark, leaves and fruit, which are then distilled or steam-distilled to produce the oil. It can take several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil.
Another essential feature of a good essential oil bottle label is the sell-by date. This date tells consumers when they can expect the essential oil to be at its best quality and optimum therapeutic effectiveness.
You want to choose dark colored, glass containers to protect the oils from light and other contaminants that can taint them over time. This is especially important if the oils are sold in small retail sizes such as 5 ml roller bottles or smaller.
When looking at the bottle, you should check that it’s properly sealed and does not have any cracks or dents in the lid. These problems can allow bacteria to enter the container and taint the essential oil.
In addition to ensuring the label is well-made, it’s also important to ensure that it is correctly printed and printed on high-quality ink. This will ensure that your bottles won’t smear or come off when you’re opening them.
It’s also a good idea to check that the company’s labeling is in compliance with FDA regulations. This is especially important if the company makes any health claims about the essential oil, such as saying it can treat or prevent disease or improve body function.
There are several reputable companies that sell essential oils and aromatherapy supplies online. These companies usually purchase their oils from farmers and wholesalers who they trust for their integrity and practices.
- Check the bottle
If you’re not sure what to look for when buying essential oils, the first place to start is with the bottle. The label should include the Latin name of the plant the oil was extracted from and a batch number and expiration date. A label that doesn’t include these details is typically a sign of a fake essential oil.
Another good way to determine the quality of an essential oil is to smell it. You should try to hone your sense of smell (seriously!) and spend time smelling a wide variety of essential oils. This will help you become more olfactory attentive and make it easier to spot fakes.
Some bogus essential oil companies will make use of synthetic fragrances to mask the scent of their oils. These fragrances are often toxic and can cause hormone disruption, respiratory irritation, and even cancer.
The scent of an essential oil should be a very distinctive, pure aroma. If it is a mixture of a multitude of different fragrances, then it is likely a fake.
You should also check to see if the bottle has a childproof lid or dropper. These are common safety measures for any natural product that contains water.
If the bottle is plastic, it is a sign that it is not a high quality essential oil. This type of container will slowly eat away at the essential oil, degrading it over time.
A glass container is a must for real essential oils, as it will block out ultraviolet radiation, which can degrade the integrity of the oil. If you see a plastic container with an essential oil, toss it immediately!
In addition, the container should be dark and amber. This is because sunlight can damage the color and quality of the oils, so they should be stored in bottles that are dark or amber.
Finally, it’s a good idea to buy essential oils from a reputable company with an established reputation. The internet is full of bogus sellers of essential oils, so it’s best to buy from a company with a professional website and full contact details.
- Check the company’s reputation
The most important thing to look for when buying essential oils is a company with an enduring reputation and a clear commitment to purity. These brands are often able to go to the lengths necessary to achieve reputable third-party certifications, and they are responsive to consumer inquiries.
It’s a good idea to check the company’s website and read their FAQs about the oil you’re considering. These will provide you with additional information that can help you decide if the company is right for you.
Another important consideration is the quality of the oils they produce. It’s not uncommon for lower-quality companies to fill their bottles with a combination of vegetable oil and water, which can contain added substances that are harmful for your health. This is called adulteration, and can be especially problematic for cheaper oils.
A good company will test their oils with GC/MS, which can determine the presence of chemically altered compounds. However, it’s important to note that GC/MS tests are not perfect.
This means that it’s a good idea to ask the company if they do any additional testing, such as Organoleptic or FTIR tests. These tests can give you additional details about the oil that can’t be obtained through a GC/MS test.
It’s also a good idea to read the company’s statement of purity, as well as their FAQs about the oil you’re looking into. These statements will tell you if they have a history of creating products that are derived from the highest quality ingredients, and how those components are tested to ensure their safety and integrity.
You should always choose a company that is dedicated to the health of their customers and employees. This includes providing up-to-date GC/MS reports and other useful information, as well as responding to questions or inquiries about their products and processes. It’s also a good idea to check their online blog and social media accounts. You can even contact them to request a sample. These samples will be free of charge and will give you an idea of the quality and consistency of the products you’re considering purchasing.
- Ask for samples
Essential oils are concentrated compounds extracted from aromatic plants to capture their scent, flavor and natural benefits. They are found in seeds, flowers, bark, roots, leaves, stems, rinds and fruit.
There are a number of ways to buy essential oils that are safe and authentic. Some of these include purchasing from reputable companies, buying online and meeting with local retailers that sell oils.
It’s important to look for vendors who provide detailed information about their products and oils. This includes their educational background and length of time in business. This gives you confidence in the company and its knowledge of essential oils.
A reputable vendor should also be willing to answer all your questions. This is especially important if you are placing a large order.
Another way to find a good vendor is to ask friends and family for recommendations. They are usually the most enthusiastic about essential oils and are more likely to share them with others.
If you have any concerns about the quality of an oil, request a sample. This will give you a chance to try the product before you decide to make a purchase.
Some vendors have a limited quantity of samples available. These are often smaller bottles of different oils that they use to test and promote their products. These are also great to give away as gifts to friends or family.
Be sure to ask for free samples before you place a larger order. This will allow you to try the oils before you commit to a purchase.
A reputable company should have their essential oils tested by a qualified laboratory to verify the purity and content of the oils. They should use gas liquid chromatography combined with mass spectroscopy to detect the various components of an oil. These testing methods are regulated by organizations such as AFNOR (Association Francaise de Normalisation) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization).
It’s also a good idea to get a few samples of the same type of oil. This will allow you to determine which ones you like best.